Snow blankets Midwest: Dec. 20, 2012

The first widespread snowstorm of the season began a slow crawl across the Midwest on Thursday.

Snow-covered cars in a parking lot greet early morning risers in Madison, Wis. as a severe winter storm moves through the upper Midwest Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart)

Eau Claire, Wis. residents clean up Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 following winter-like weather that dumped just short of 15 inches of snow on the city. Schools were closed and travel impacted in the region. Northwest Region State Patrol troopers responded to nearly 160 run-offs Sunday, including 17 property damage crashes and a total of four injury related accidents. (AP Photo/Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Steve Kinderman)

Snow clearing crews in Pine Island, Minn were out early trying to clear roads before morning commuters headed to work on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/The Rochester Post-Bulletin, Jerry Olson)

Snow falls over the fortification walls while people skate in Place Youville, decorated with Christmas lights Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 in Quebec City. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)

Covered in steadily falling snow, Colman Devine makes his way home from an overnight work shift in Madison, Wis., as a severe winter storm hits the upper Midwest Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest Thursday, creating treacherous, sometimes deadly driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart)

A local resident clears snow from his driveway after an overnight snowfall left many schools and businesses closed for the day, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Urbandale, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A local resident clears snow from his driveway after an overnight snowfall left many schools and businesses closed for the day, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Urbandale, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Don Hunter shovels outside of Gerda's German Restaurant and Bakery in Omaha Neb., Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. A storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rocky Mountains is heading east and is forecast to bring the first major winter storm of the season to the central plains and Midwest. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Alyssa Schukar) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT

Wayne Stuberg cleans the sidewalk from the deep snow in front of his home in Omaha Neb., Thursday Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/The Omaha World-Herald, Matt Miller) MAGS OUT TV OUT

A local resident clears snow from his driveway after an overnight snowfall left many schools and businesses closed for the day, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Urbandale, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Blowing snow reduces vision as motorists wait for a light change in Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The Midwest's first major snowstorm of the season was sweeping across several states early Thursday, shuttering schools, creating treacherous roadways and threatening to slow down one of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

State Patrol officer Tim Freden investigates the wreckage from a rollover crash on Interstate 90 east of Austin, Minn., Thursday morning, Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest Thursday, creating treacherous, sometimes deadly driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP/The Daily Herald, Matt Peterson)

Wayne Stuberg cleans the sidewalk from the deep snow in front of his home in Omaha Neb., Thursday Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/The Omaha World-Herald, Matt Miller) MAGS OUT TV OUT

Early morning motorists travel west along I-70 and into a winter storm near Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Winter weather advisories are in effect for the area. The Midwest's first major snowstorm of the season was sweeping across several states early Thursday, shuttering schools, creating treacherous roadways and threatening to slow down one of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

A snow plow spreads salt and sand Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012 in Omaha, Neb. A storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rocky Mountains is heading east and is forecast to bring the first major winter storm of the season to the central plains and Midwest.(AP Photo/The World-Herald, Jimmie Burnett) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT

Mutual of Omaha employees clean their vehicles of snow before leaving on their drive home during the evening commute Wednesday Dec. 20, 2012 in Omaha Neb. A storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rocky Mountains is heading east and is forecast to bring the first major winter storm of the season to the central plains and Midwest. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Matt Miller) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT

The departure and arrival boards at Eppley Airfield in Omaha Neb., show most flights for Thursday, Dec. 30, 2012 have already been canceled due to near blizzard conditions. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/The Omaha World-Herald, Rebecca S. Gratz) MAGS OUT TV OUT

Blowing snow reduces vision as motorists wait for a light change in Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The Midwest's first major snowstorm of the season was sweeping across several states early Thursday, shuttering schools, creating treacherous roadways and threatening to slow down one of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

A woman and her husband shovel their walk as a blizzard dropped snow over Boulder, Colo., Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012. A storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rocky Mountains is heading east and is forecast to bring the first major winter storm of the season to the central plains and Midwest. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Steve Gordon of Madison, Wis., walks his dogs along Grandview Blvd. on the city's south side as a steady snowfall moves throughout the area Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest Thursday, creating treacherous, sometimes deadly driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart)

A towing crew from Moody's of Rochester, Minn. hooks up a tanker trailer truck that lost control and landed in the median of U.S. 52 North near Oronocco, Minn. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend.(AP Photo/ Rochester Post-Bulletin, Jerry Olson)

With schools closed due to the season's heaviest snowfall to date, Candida Lopez makes her way to a friends house to spend the day Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012 in Rochester, Minn. The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Rochester Post-Bulletin, Jerry Olson)

Snow falls over the fortification walls while people skate in Place Youville, decorated with Christmas lights Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 in Quebec City. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)

Workers shovel and blow the snow after a snowfall Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 at the legislature in Quebec City. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)

In this Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012 photo, Andy Perez cleans snow off his car by hand after working his shift at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. More than a foot of snow fell in the Twin Cities Sunday. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Marlin Levison)

In this Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012 photo, people navigate the snow in St. Paul, Minn. More than a foot of snow fell in the Twin Cities Sunday. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Marlin Levison)